Final Buzzer: 2009-10

And just like that, it's over. 

What was billed as mid-Michigan's most competitive and exciting boys basketball season in decades was at least highlight-packed and full of surprises -- from opening night in December to Sexton's Class B state championship game Saturday night. 

What's next? With the help of our area coaches, I'll be figuring out the LSJ all-area Dream Team and other honors, hopefully to be printed two weeks from Sunday. And as you can imagine, this is probably the toughest one to select in a decade. At least 10 players would be strong candidates any other year. But we go with five -- and some of the combinations I've come up with are far different than we've had before. 

But before we're all said and done this weekend, a few final thoughts on the Class B state final: 
Detroit Country Day 71, Sexton 47
--I don't feel like the Big Reds were intimidated as teams had reason to be against the top-ranked Yellowjackets. They seemed loose during warm-ups and competed to win. During a 7-0 second-quarter run, it kinda felt like Rocky IV, when Rocky draws blood from Drago and realizes his opponent is actually human, not a machine. But then the DCD machine hit another gear... 
--Ray McCallum, Jr., is awesome. This is the first time I've watched him over an entire game. Sexton tried to guard him man-to-man, which worked for a little while until he started finding openings. The Big Reds switched to a zone -- and McCallum split it and nearly threw down what a writer on press row said would've been his career highlight. I don't know if he deserved Mr. Basketball more than Detroit Pershing's Keith Appling -- he's fantastic too -- but he certainly deserved lots of votes.
--I think Sexton seniors Marcus Cain and James Suttles are intriguing college prospects. They're both athletic, unselfish, and seem full of potential even with their high school careers over. 
--We've talked about this team all week, so there isn't a ton more to say without repeating. Bottom line, Sexton did everything expected and more -- and as coach Carlton Valentine said Friday, the monkey/gorilla/ape is off the program's back. But with so many returnees, the Big Reds surely realize expectations won't drop heading into next season.